Maestros and the Machines: Bridging the gap between the past and the future of art and technology

by #LizPublika

Liz Publika attends Maestros and the Machines at Mercer Labs, NYC

Imagine standing in a mirrored hall, where over a half a million LED lights are engaged in an orchestrated symphony, appearing in beautiful sequences that correspond to music specially composed for the nuanced performance. The endless permutations of colors and the sense of endlessness created by the surrounding mirrors imitate boundless space, where the vastness of the universe is suddenly contained in one splendid room. And you are in the middle of it all. 

This is just one of the 15 rooms contained within Mercer Labs — the Museum of Art and Technology based in New York City — which unveiled its Maestros and the Machines exhibition On April 24th, 2025. The idea behind it challenges the very essence of art and its relationship to time, asking: What could’ve been created if the artists, musicians, and geniuses of the past had technology of the future, or even as we know it today?

Image provided by Mercer Labs

Using cutting-edge digital tools, soundscapes and more, the exhibition explores the fascinating question by inviting visitors to engage in a visual examination of the past and future by being active participants rather than passive observers. The people moving through these rooms very directly influence the art displayed within, from colorizing creatures that are then set free in the surrounding digital projections to controlling mechanisms that make collaborative music. 

“Art has always been alive, ever evolving, and constantly shaped by new tools and perspectives,” shares artist and Mercer Labs founder Roy Nachum. Indeed, it has. To help bring the past into our present, Mercer Labs worked with music producer and innovator, Timbaland, as well as Bang & Olufsen, USM, and Teenage Engineering to create the exhibit’s immersive soundscapes and environments, since engaging all of the senses enhances the experience.

Immersive installations such as the 4D Sound Experience, which features one of the only three large-scale 4D sound systems found around the world, definitely provides a unique opportunity to explore; while light installations that respond to physical visitor interaction encourage contemplation about how art is impacted by the subjective. And since Mercer Labs spans 36,000 square feet, visitors can expect a 60–90 minute exploratory journey. 

Mercer Labs is located at 21 Dey Street in New York City. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the official website: mercerlabs.com/theexhibit